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What Is Your Goal?

The benefits of setting goals are well-documented. Studies have shown that those who set goals and work purposefully toward achieving them earn more over their lifetime than those who don’t.

But merely setting goals is often just the tip of an iceberg. For example, are they goals that align themselves with your priorities and vision for who you truly want to be? Do they motivate and inspire you? Are they clear?

It’s easy to lose track of your goals if you’re not consistently looking at them, reminding yourself of the steps you need to take to achieve them, or if they’re too vague.

The good news is there are plenty of ways to keep yourself on a track that leads to not only accomplishing your goal, but also leads you to the higher purpose of your life in terms of achievement and the person you truly want to be.

Here are some things to keep in mind when it comes to your goal-setting:

Motivation

The best goals are those that motivate you, are important to you, and have value in terms of your desire to achieve them. If it’s a goal that drives you to achieve it, then keep it. If not, it may not be specific enough or worth striving toward.

If your goal creates an urgency in you to make it happen, you’re more likely to pursue it with greater energy and desire.

Write Them Down

It’s virtually a universal truth that writing your goals down is a big step on the journey to achieving them. But be careful about the language you use as you write them. Being specific and using language such as ‘I will’ rather than ‘I would like to’ gives them more power and passion.

Consider also the time frame of your goals. Ask yourself where you want to be in one year, five years, 10 years – and beyond.

Realistic Goals

Don’t set a goal that you have no chance of achieving. On the flip side, don’t set goals that are too easy. Instead, find a balance with goals that are realistic but challenging. Meeting those kinds of goals will give you the most satisfaction.

Prioritize Tasks

Each goal you set comes with certain tasks you need to do in order to achieve that goal. It’s important that you determine which are the most important tasks and prioritize them accordingly. Don’t spend time on busy-work tasks that don’t lead toward the achievement of your goal in the long run.

In a similar vein, let go of things that can subconsciously hold you back from reaching your goals. Successful people know how to let go of anything that’s not aligned with how they want to live and the person they want to be.

Visualize

Take time every day to clear your mind and think about the person you would like to be, and imagine the end result of achieving your goals. Ask yourself, what will that feel like? How will you celebrate? The power of seeing yourself reaching a goal will inspire you to keep working to attain it.

Progress

It can be daunting – even discouraging – to look at where you are now and the distance you need to travel to fulfill your goals. That’s why it’s important to acknowledge your progress and the achievements you’ve made along the way. It will boost your morale and provide confidence to carry on.

All of the above strategies, especially if you used on a daily basis, can help you reach the destination you desire. Good luck on the journey.